Lower ram for stokers



C. F.v MILLER LOWER RAM FOR 6110x635 Feb. s, 1927. 1,616,865

F1166 Mauren 2s, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 4o 4o 4// 25 l (l f v -25 w +1 V43 WITNESSES ATTomu-:Yy l

Patented Feb. e,4 r19:27.

oFFlcE.

l CHARLES F. MILLER, E MOORE, PENNSYLVANIA,

TBIC MANUFACTURIING COMPANY, A

CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

LOWER. BAM vron s'roxnns.

Appngatin mea March 2s, 1924. serial No. 702,490. p

rI'his invention'relates to underfeed furnaces employing an inclined elongated fuel retort, or multiples thereof, alternating wlth tuyres to supply air under pressure to the 5 fuel bed and comprising a 'primary feeding mechanism for introducing, 'fuel into the retort and a secondary fuel-feeding mechanism located within the retort for the distribution of fuel delivered to the retort. One of the objects of my invention is lto provide in apparatus of the character designated a secondary fuel-feeding mechanism which shall under the operators control vdistribute fuel `to the fuel bed in variable directions and secure not only the desired forward movement of the `fuel but also obtain the desired upward movement of the A fuel bed to the end that the contour of the fuel overlying the underfeed grate may be varied to secure eicient combustion of fuel of different characteristics.

Other objects .of my invention will beunderstood by reference to the detailed description which follows, and to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinalA section throughout the retort of an underfeed stoker illustrating disposition of a preferredform of my secondary feeding mechanism Within the retort; Fig. 2 isa view in section showingon an enlarged scale the construction of the secondary feeding mechanism 'of Fig. ,1; -F1g. 3 is a view 1n section of the upper ad-v justable pushing structure; Figs. 4 andv 5 are views in transverse section of the adjustable pusher taken on lines IV-IV and 'V-V, respectively, of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of the pushing structure on line VI--VI of Fig. 4; and- 10 Fig. 7 isa fragmentary view illustrating a modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of my invention, I show at 10 an underfeed Stoker having a retort 11 and a bank of"tuyres 12 contiguous thereto. A. primary ram 13 disposed within the ram box 14 is` adapted to force fuel from the hopper 15 into thel retort 11. Fuel discharge means in the form of dump grates 's hown, forms the 'bottom mg against the base 30 to clearly in Figs. 3,

16 at the rear of the retort 11 and tuyres 12 may also vbe provided. f Within the retort 11 is disposed a' seconda-ry feeding mechanism or ram 20 which is` adapted to reciprocate upon a bottom` plate '21- of the retort. The ram 20, las ofthe retort for the major portion of its length.

The. ram 20 comprises a plurality of .ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOS ELEC-A stepped pusher structures 25, 26, 27, 28, and` 29 which are secured to a base platev 30. As illustrated, each of the pushing structures 26, 27, 28, 29 comprises an L-shaped mem- 'ber having the extremities of its legs bearfor'm a stepped structure. lA depending lug 31 is secured to the base plate 30,- thelowerend of `which is pivotallyconnected to one end of a drive rod 32. The vother end of the rod 32 is conv nected to a suitable lever mechanism associated with the ram 13 in such manner that the reciprocation ofthe ram -13 also imparts a reciprocatory movement to the ram 20.

The upper pushingstructure 25 ofthe ram 20 is constructed to provide different fuel-feeding capacities. As shown more l 4 and 5,'the pusher structure 25 is plvotally mounted at the forward end of the base 30 bymeans of a cylindrical portion 35 which engages a cooperating groeve 36 in the member 30.` A 'bracket 38 1s secured to the base member 30 by means i of a bolt 39 and is provided with an upstanding portion 40 in'a face of'whi'ch are provided notches 41. The pusher 25 is provided with a depending flange 43 which is provided near its base with a projection 44,

adaptedto-engage the notches 41 of the up-f standing portion 40 of the bracket 38. An

lopening extending parallel to the ange 43 is provided inthe pusher 25-to permit it to 'pass down over the upstanding4 portion 40 of the bracket 38 in the different positions assumed when the projection 44 engages a notch 41.` The arrangement is such that the loosening. of the outer nut of the bolt 46 permits the rear e d of the pusher 25 to be raised or lowere for the purpose-fof changing the area of its effective pushing is elevated so as to give it an increased fuel clined retort, a

moving effect. By reason of the greater upward inclination of the top face 25, as well as by reason of the greater effective arca of the vertically-disposed face, which moves more fuel rearward than can! be conveyed by the rear pushers 26, 27. The fuel entering the retort is therefore forced upwardly over the tuyre banks l2 to a greater height than if the foremost pusher 25 were in a lower position. In this manner, by changing the relative position of the pusher 25 with respect to the-base member 30', it is possible to control to a large extent Vthe thickness of the fuel bed in the forward portion of the stoker, and,consequently, the thickness of the fuel bed'in the subsequently traversed. portions of the bed- The particular disposition of the pusher '25 that will Secure the mosteilicient results depends largely upon the character of the fuel employed and to some extent upon other operating conditions.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a single Wedgeshaped ram having a single pusher struc` ture. This structure is in detail like that of the foremost pusher structure 25 of the ram 20 above described, and a detailed description thereof is deemed tobe unnecessary. The secondary ram when constructed with but a single pusher operatesin all substantial respects like the multiple pusher ram 2O above described and the operator is enabled to regulate the relative upward and rearward movements of the fuel by the adjustment of the angular relation and effective pushing area of the wedge-shaped pusher. in the mannei which has been fully described above. Y

While I have shown my invention in but two'forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible'of various other changes Aand modifications, without departing. from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

WhatIclaimis:- 1 In an underfeed stoker having an inrain in said retort comprising an adjustable pusher structure having van effective pushing face, and means for movement, and means for changing the effective area of said face.

8. Inan underfeed Stoker having an inclned retort, a ram in said retort comprising a pusher structure having a face transversely disposed to the direction of fuel movement and means for adjusting said pusher structure to give said face different heights.

4. In au underfeed stoker having an inclined retort, a ram in said retort comprisl ingawedge-shaped pushing structure whose base constitutes a pushing face, and means, for changing the angle of the Wedge to ,s zgive the pushing face different effective areas.

5. In an underfeed stokerhaving an inclinedretort, a ram adapted to reciprocate along the retort bottom comprising a plurality of pusher structures, the uppermost of said pusher structures being adjustable to different spect to the other pusher structures.

6. In an underfeed stoker having an infuel moving capacities with reclined retort, a ram adapted to reciprocate along the retort bottom comprisingl a plurality of step-like pusherstructures each having a` vertically-disposed pushing face, one of said pusher structures being adjustable-to give-different eective areas to its pushing face.

7 .'In an underfeed stokerhaving an inclined retort, a reciprocable rain defining the major portion of the bottomrof said inclinedretort and comprising a pluralityof pusher structures, the uppermost of said pusher structures being adjustable to different 'fuel' moving capacities with respect to the other pusher structures.

8. In an underfeed Stoker having an inclined retort, a reciprocable ram defining the major portion of the bottom of said inclined retort and comprising a plurality ofsteplike pusher structures each having a ver' face, one of said pusher structures being iie different effective areas to its pushing face.

9. An auxiliary rain for underfeed stokers comprising a base member, a pivoted fuel supporting and pushing member carried solely by said base-member, and-means for securing said pivoted memberin different angular positions with respect to said base member 10. An auxiliary stokers comprisingv a base inember, a fuel pushing member, a bracket secured only to the base member, and means associated with the bracket for securing the fuel pushing rainA for underfeed member in different positions With respect to the base member. l

11. An auxiliary ram for underfeed stokers comprising a base member, a fuel pushing member swinging from one end upon the base member, a bracket secured to the base member and supporting the other end of the fuel pushing member, and means associated with the bracket for securing the fuel pushing member in different angular 10 positions with -respect to the base member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed 1924.

my name this 17th dayV of March CHARLES r. MILLER.` 

